Environment control system for controlling environmental conditions in a building

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an environment control system for controlling environmental conditions in a building. The environment control system comprises a plurality of sensors located in different areas of the building. Each sensor is used for determining a measured value for one of the environmental conditions in the area where the sensor is located. Further at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured for exchanging data with at least one mobile computing device for modifying a target value of one of the environmental conditions for the area where the sensor is located. The environment control system further comprises an environment controller for receiving the measured values and the modified target values from the plurality of sensors. The environment controller is further configured for comparing the measured values with the modified target values for each area of the building and generating commands for each area of the building based on a difference between the measured values and modified target values. The environment control system further comprises a plurality of room controllers, such that each room controller is installed in a room in one of the areas of the building. Each room controller is configured for exchanging data with the environment controller to obtain the measured values of the environmental conditions in the room.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/992,686, filed May 30, 2018, now allowed, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of environment controlsystems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to anenvironment control system for controlling environmental conditions in abuilding.

BACKGROUND

Systems for controlling environmental conditions, for example inbuildings, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. A control system mayat once control heating and cooling, monitor air quality, detecthazardous conditions such as fire, carbon monoxide release, intrusion,and the like. Such control systems generally include at least oneenvironment controller, which receives measured environmental values,generally from external sensors, and in turn determines set-points orcommand parameters to be sent to controlled appliances. Environmentcontrollers are increasingly becoming a central and critical point ofcontrol for buildings, and their capabilities are extended beyondtraditional building automation and safety functionalities.

Environment controllers may also be configured for controlling lightingrelated fixtures, such as a smart light fixture. A smart light fixtureis a new type of light fixture capable of interacting with a mobilecomputing device located in proximity of the smart light fixture. Forinstance, a plurality of smart light fixtures is deployed in a shoppingcenter. A particular light fixture is capable of transmitting a uniquepattern (e.g. a unique identifier) used by a mobile computing device foridentifying the particular light fixture. The unique pattern is used toengage a user of the mobile computing device in a marketing offer for aproduct located in proximity of the particular light fixture. Theengagement of the user is performed via a marketing application executedon the mobile computing device, which receives the marketing offer froma remote marketing server based on the unique pattern of the particularlight fixture.

Although environment controllers and smart light fixtures can beco-located in a building, the operate completely independently. There isa need for creating synergies between environment controllers and smartlight fixtures, so as to optimize their respective use.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to anenvironment control system for controlling environmental conditions in abuilding. The environment control system comprises a plurality ofsensors located in different areas of the building. Each sensor is usedfor determining a measured value for one of the environmental conditionsin the area where the sensor is located. Further at least one of theplurality of sensors is configured for exchanging data with at least onemobile computing device for modifying a target value of one of theenvironmental conditions for the area where the sensor is located. Theenvironment control system further comprises an environment controllerfor receiving the measured values and the modified target values fromthe plurality of sensors. The environment controller is furtherconfigured for comparing the measured values with the modified targetvalues for each area of the building and generating commands for eacharea of the building based on a difference between the measured valuesand modified target values. The environment control system furthercomprises a plurality of room controllers, such that each roomcontroller is installed in a room in one of the areas of the building.Each room controller is configured for exchanging data with theenvironment controller to obtain the measured values of theenvironmental conditions in the room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of example onlywith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an environment control system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate three variants of interactions between anenvironment control system and a mobile computing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing and other features will become more apparent upon readingof the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodimentsthereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. Like numerals represent like features on the various drawings.

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally address one or moreof the problems related to controlling environmental conditions in abuilding.

Terminology

The following terminology is used throughout the present disclosure:

Communication interface: device or component capable of providingcommunication functionalities based on a specific communicationtechnology (for example a standardized or proprietary wiredcommunication technology, or a standardized or proprietary wirelesscommunication technology). A specific protocol or set of protocolscorresponding to the specific communication technology is implemented bythe communication interface.

Controlled appliance: device that receives a command and executes thecommand. The command is received from an environment controller.

Environment control device (ECD): generic name for a component of anenvironment control system. An ECD consists of an environmentcontroller, a sensor, a controlled appliance, etc.

Environment controller: device capable of receiving information relatedto an environment and generating and sending commands based on suchinformation.

Environment control system: a set of components which collaborate formonitoring and controlling an environment.

Environmental condition: measurable, quantifiable or verifiable physicalproperty of an environment such as for example: temperature, humidity,lighting, number of occupants, etc.

Environmental data: any data (e.g. information, commands) related to anenvironment that are exchanged between components of an environmentcontrol system.

Sensor: device that detects an environmental characteristic and providesa numerical, quantitative or verifiable representation thereof. Thenumerical, quantitative or verifiable representation are sent to anenvironment controller.

Smart light fixture: a light fixture adapted for interacting with amobile computing device located in proximity of the light fixture. Forsimplification purposes, in the rest of the description, when areference is made to a light fixture, it shall be understood as a smartlight fixture.

Wi-Fi: any Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) product that is based onthe Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11standards. However, in the rest of the description (for clarificationpurposes), any reference to Wi-Fi excludes the 802.11s standard whichsupports mesh communications over Wi-Fi. A direct mention of the 802.11sstandard is used when appropriate.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an environment control system 5 for interactingwith mobile computing devices 70 is illustrated. Although FIG. 1 depictsonly one mobile computing device, the present environment control system5 is capable to interact with multiple mobile computing devices 70concurrently.

The environment control system 5 includes an environment controller 10,in communication with sensors 50 and 60. Although only two sensors 50and 60 are depicted in FIG. 1, the environment control system 5 and theenvironment controller 10 are adapted for interacting with numeroussensors concurrently. The environment controller 10 is also incommunication with at least one room controller, shown on FIG. 1 as roomcontroller 40. The room controller 40 and the sensor 50 are furtherengaged in a communication with at least one of the mobile computingdevice, represented on FIG. 1 as the mobile computing device 70.

The environment control system 5 is implemented in a building (not shownfor simplicity purposes). The building in which the environment controlsystem 5 is implemented is subdivided into areas 20 and rooms 30. Onearea 20 may include several rooms 30. For simplicity purposes, FIG. 1shows only one area 20, and one room 30 in the area 20. However, thepresented environment control system 5 is not limited to such animplementation, and area 20 could comprise one or several rooms 30, andsections of the area 20 could not be included in any room 30. The sensor50 and the room controller 40 are positioned in the room 30 and the area20, while the sensor 60 is positioned in the area 20. The roomcontroller 40 may be configured for enabling control of one or moreenvironmental conditions of the room 30, in which the room controller 40is installed. The environmental conditions may relate to any of thefollowing: temperature, humidity, lighting, thermostat settings, deviceon/off control and the like. In some example implementations, the roomcontroller 40 may include a display for displaying a measured value anda target value of one or several of the environmental conditions in theroom based on the data exchanged with the environment controller 10 andthe sensor 50.

The sensor 50 may be used to modify a target value of an environmentalcondition by the mobile computing device 70. The mobile computing device70 may be used to modify the target value of the environmentalcondition, using such as a user interface of the mobile computing device70. The user interface of the mobile computing device 70 may be anystandard user interface such as a touch-based user interface, akeypad-based interface, a joystick-based interface, a mouse-basedinterface, a trackball-based interface and the like.

The mobile computing device 70 may include any of a portable computer,an electronic tablet, a mobile phone and a wearable electronic device,etc.

Once the modified target value of the environmental condition in theroom 30 has been inputted through the mobile computing device 70, themodified target value is sent to the environment controller 10 by themobile computing device 70 either through the room controller 40 orthrough the sensor 50, depending on which of the room controller 40 andthe sensor 50 is the closest to the mobile computing device 70, or has astronger signal strength.

The environment controller 10 includes a communication interface 13 forsending and/or receiving data related to measured values and modifiedtarget values from the room controller and/or the sensors 50 and 60.

The environment controller 10 also includes a processing unit 12 forperforming a plurality of operations. Each processor may further haveone or several cores. The processing unit 12 executes instructions ofcomputer program(s) for performing the functionalities of theenvironment controller 10: receiving measured value(s) for theenvironmental condition(s) from one or several sensors, receiving themodified target value(s) for one or several of the environmentalconditions from the sensor, receiving the modified target value(s) foror several of the environmental conditions from the room controller 40,processing the received measured environmental conditions, processingthe modified target value(s) for the environmental condition(s),transmitting the modified target value received from the sensor tocorresponding room controller, transmitting the measured value of theenvironmental data in the room to the room controller, etc.). Theenvironment controller 10 also includes a memory 11 for storinginstructions of the computer program(s) executed by the processing unit12, data generated by the execution of the computer program(s), datareceived via a communication interface 13, etc. The environmentcontroller 10 may comprise several types of memories, including volatilememory, non-volatile memory, etc.

The environment controller 10 may comprise at least one display 14 fordisplaying data generated by the processing unit 12, informationreceived via the communication interface 13 or via a user interface 15,etc. A single display 14 is represented in FIG. 1 for simplificationpurposes. Examples of display units 14 include tactile screens, touchscreens, LCD etc.

The environment controller 10 may comprise at least one user interface15 for allowing a user to interact therewith, for instance forconfiguring/reconfiguring aspects or parameters of the environmentcontroller 10. A single user interface 15 is represented in FIG. 1 forsimplification purposes. Examples of user interface(s) 15 include atrackpad, a touch screen, a keyboard, etc.

For each room 30, and for each area 20, the environment controller 10performs a comparison of the measured values and the modified targetvalues of each environmental condition to determine a differencetherebetween on a per environmental condition, per room and per areabasis. Based on the difference between the measured values and themodified target values of each environmental condition for each room andfor each area, the environment controller 10 generates one or severalcommands to one or several controlled appliances (not shown). Thecommands regulate the controlled appliances which enable the environmentcontroller 10 to reduce the difference between the measured values andthe modified values of each environmental condition in one or several ofthe rooms 30 and/or one or several of the areas 20.

The mobile computing device 70, the room controller 40 and the sensors50 and 60 communicate with the environment controller 10 using any ofthe following: a Wi-Fi network, a mesh network, a Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE) network, and a combination thereof. A particular type of meshnetwork which may be supported by the communication interface 13 is amesh network based on the 802.11s standard (mesh Wi-Fi). Thecommunication interface 13 may be adapted to support other types ofnetworks, such as an Ethernet network, a Bluetooth network, a cellularnetwork, etc. Each of the plurality of sensors 50 and 60 is associatedwith a unique identifier. For example, the unique identifier consists ofa Sensor_ID or a combination of the Sensor_ID with aSensor_management_device_ID. A mapping of each sensor's Sensor_ID withthe corresponding sensor is stored in the memory 11 of the environmentcontroller 10. Furthermore, a mapping of each sensor's Sensor_ID withthe corresponding room 30 and/or area 20 is also stored in the memory11. Multiple sensors with their respective Sensor_ID may be groupedunder the supervision of one Sensor_management_device_ID. As there aretypically hundreds of sensors in a building, grouping sensors per area20, or per room 30, with a unique Sensor_management_device_ID per area20 or per room 30 provides a simple way to manage the informationreceived from one mobile computing device 70 by multiple sensors 50 and60 concurrently.

Furthermore, each Sensor_management_device_ID may be handled as a subnetby the environment controller 10, or alternatively, severalSensor_management_device_IDs may be grouped as a subnet and handled assuch by the environment controller 10.

The memory 11 of the environment controller 10 stores a mapping of eachroom controller 40 under the control of the environment controller 10with an identification of the sensor 50 or the plurality of sensors inthe corresponding room 30.

The mapping may be generated at an environment management server (notshown) and transmitted to the environment controller 10. The processingunit 12 receives the mapping via the communication interface 13 andstores the mapping in the memory 11. In a first alternative, the mappingmay be generated by the environment controller 10 by a technician, orautomatically generated by the processing unit 12 based on signalstrengths of sensors collected in the room 30 where the room controller40 is located. In a second alternative, the mapping is generateddirectly at the environment controller 10, through interactions of auser (e.g. a system administrator) with the user interface 15. Forexample, the processing unit 12 displays a dedicated Graphical UserInterface (GUI) on the display 14, generates the mapping through theinteractions of the user with the user interface 15, and stores thegenerated mapping in the memory 11.

In an example implementation not specifically shown, some of the sensors50 and 60 may be co-located with a light fixture. The light fixture maybe identified with a corresponding Fixture_ID, and may be configured forinteraction with the environment controller 10 and the mobile computingdevice 70. A first type of technology used for implementing theinteractions of the light fixtures with the mobile computing devices 70consists in Visual Light Communication (VLC). Each particular lightfixture includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED) transmitting a particularlight pattern, which acts as a beacon for signaling a mobile computingdevice 70 in proximity of the particular light fixture. The particularlight pattern is representative of the unique pattern of the particularlight fixture. A camera of the mobile computing device 70 receives theparticular light pattern, and associate the particular light patternwith the Fixture_ID for identifying the particular light fixture. Insome example implementations, the identification of the light fixturemay be used by marketing application executed by the mobile computingdevice 70 is capable of determining the unique pattern of the particularlight fixture based on the received particular light pattern.

A second type of technology used for implementing the interactions ofthe light fixtures with the mobile computing devices 70 consists inBluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Each particular light fixture includes a BLEinterface capable of interacting with a mobile computing device 70supporting BLE and in proximity of the particular light fixture. Theunique pattern of the particular light fixture is transmitted to themobile computing device 70 via the BLE protocol. Optionally, additionalinformation is also transmitted via the BLE protocol. In an exampleimplementation, the marketing application executed by the mobilecomputing device 70 receives the unique pattern and the optionaladditional information via a BLE interface of the mobile computingdevice 70.

Other types of technologies may be used for implementing theinteractions of the light fixtures with the mobile computing device 70,as long as these technologies are supported by the light fixtures andthe mobile computing device 70, and as long as these technologiessupport at least the transmission of the unique pattern of the lightfixtures from the light fixtures to the mobile computing device 70.

In an example implementation, the light fixtures may include dedicatedcomponents for supporting their advanced interactions capabilities, suchas a processing unit, memory, a communication interface for interactingwith the mobile computing device 70 (e.g. a BLE interface), acontrollable LED (e.g. for implementing VLC), a communication interfacefor interacting with the environment controller 10 etc.

In an example implementation, the information is used for engaging theusers of the mobile computing devices 70 through interactions with amarketing server.

Reference is now made concurrently to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A-2C, whereFIGS. 2A-2C illustrate three variants of interactions between theenvironment control system 5 and the mobile computing device 70.Although only one mobile computing device 70 is shown on FIG. 1 andFIGS. 2A-2C, the present environment control system 5 is not limited tointeracting with only one mobile computing device 70 at a time.Representation of only one mobile computing device 70 in FIG. 1 andFIGS. 2A-2C is for clarify of the Figures only and should not beinterpreted as a limitation of the present environment control system 5.Furthermore, for simplicity purposes, the interactions of theenvironment controller 10 and controlled appliances, which is performedas known in the art, have not been illustrated on FIGS. 1, and 2A-2C.

More particularly, FIG. 2A depicts an interaction of the mobilecomputing device 70 with the present environment control system 5through the sensor 60, which is located in the area 20, which is notpart of any room 30. In this variant, the mobile computing device 70 islocated closer to the sensor 60, and therefore sends a query message 201to the sensor 60 requesting the target values for the environmentalconditions where the mobile computing device 70 is currently located.The sensor 60 generates and sends a query message 202 sent to theenvironment controller 10, requesting the measured values and the targetvalues for the environmental conditions in the area 20 where the sensor60 is located. The environment controller 10 extracts from the memory 11the measured values and the target values for the environmentalconditions in the area 20 and responds to the query message 202 with aresponse message 203 including the measured values and the target valuesfor the environmental conditions in the area 20. The sensor 60 receivesthe response message 203 and forward the measured values and the targetvalues for the environmental conditions in the area 20 to the mobilecomputing device 70 in a response message 204. The mobile computingdevice 70 receives the response message 204, extracts therefrom themeasured values and the target values of the environmental conditionswhere the mobile computing device 70 is located. The mobile computingdevice 70 displays the measured values and the target values of theenvironmental conditions where the mobile computing device 70 is locatedthrough a display of the mobile computing device 70. A user of themobile computing device 70 may consult the measured values and thetarget values of the environmental conditions where the mobile computingdevice 70 is located on the display of the mobile computing device 70and modify one or several of the target values of the environmentconditions through a user interface of the mobile computing device 70,such as for example a touch-display. The mobile computing device 70receives from the user of the mobile computing device 70 the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) and generates acommand message 205 sent to the sensor 60, the command message 205comprising the modified target value(s) for the environmentalcondition(s) where the mobile computing device 70 is located. The sensor60 receives the command message 205 and extracts therefrom the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) where the sensor 60is located. The sensor 60 then generates a command message 206 sent tothe environment controller 10, which comprises the modified targetvalue(s) for the environmental condition(s) where the sensor 60 islocated. The environment controller 10 receives the command message 206and extracts therefrom the modified target value(s) for theenvironmental condition(s) where the sensor 60 is located. Theenvironment controller 10 compares the measured values with the modifiedtarget values for environmental condition in the area 20, and generatescommands based on a difference between the measured values and themodified target values for the environment control for the area 20, thecommands being sent to the controlled appliances under the control ofthe environment controller 10.

In contrast, FIG. 2B depicts an interaction of the mobile computingdevice 70 with the present environment control system 5 through the roomcontroller 40, which is located in the room 30 of the area 20. In thisvariant, the mobile computing device 70 is located closer to the roomcontroller 40, or the signal strength measured from the room controller40 is greater than the signal strength measured from the sensor 50 alsolocated in the room 30. The mobile computing device sends a querymessage 211 to the room controller 40 requesting the target values forthe environmental conditions where the mobile computing device 70 iscurrently located, i.e. in the room 30. The room controller 40 extractsfrom memory the values of the measured values and the target values forthe environmental conditions in the room 30 and responds to the querymessage 211 with a response message 212 including the measured valuesand the target values for the environmental conditions in the area 20.The mobile computing device 70 receives the response message 212,extracts therefrom the measured values and the target values of theenvironmental conditions in the room 30 where the mobile computingdevice 70 is located. The mobile computing device 70 displays themeasured values and the target values of the environmental conditions inthe room 30 where the mobile computing device 70 is located through adisplay of the mobile computing device 70. A user of the mobilecomputing device 70 may consult the measured values and the targetvalues of the environmental conditions in the room 30 where the mobilecomputing device 70 is located on the display of the mobile computingdevice 70 and modify one or several of the target values of theenvironment conditions through a user interface of the mobile computingdevice 70, such as for example a touch-display. The mobile computingdevice 70 receives from the user of the mobile computing device 70 themodified target value(s) for the environmental condition(s) andgenerates a command message 213 sent to the room controller 40, thecommand message 213 comprising the modified target value(s) for theenvironmental condition(s) in the room 30 where the mobile computingdevice 70 is located. The room controller 40 receives the commandmessage 213 and extracts therefrom the modified target value(s) for theenvironmental condition(s) in the room 30 where the room controller islocated. The room controller 40 then generates a command message 214sent to the environment controller 10, which comprises the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) in the room 30 wherethe room controller 40 is located. The environment controller 10receives the command message 214 and extracts therefrom the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) in the room 30 wherethe room controller 40 is located. The environment controller 10compares the measured values with the modified target values for theenvironmental conditions in the room 30, and generates commands based ona difference between the measured values and the modified target valuesfor the environment conditions for the room 30, the commands being sentto the controlled appliances under the control of the environmentcontroller 10. The environment controller 10 confirms the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) in the room 30 underthe control of the room controller 40 by sending an update message 215to the room controller 40, the update message comprising the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) in the room 30, to bedisplayed by the room controller 40. The room controller 40 may furthergenerate an update message 216 sent to the mobile computing device 70,the update message 216 including the modified target value(s) for theenvironmental condition(s) in the room 30. Additionally, the environmentcontroller 10 may send a further update message 217 to the sensor 50,located in the room 30, to inform the sensor 50 of the modified targetvalue(s) of the environmental condition(s) in the room 30.

FIG. 2C depicts an interaction of the mobile computing device 70 withthe present environment control system 5 through the sensor 50, which islocated in the room 30, which is part of the area 20. In this variant,the mobile computing device 70 is located closer to the sensor 50, andtherefore sends a query message 221 to the sensor 50 requesting themeasured values and the target values for the environmental conditionswhere the mobile computing device 70 is currently located. The sensor 50generates and sends a query message 222 sent to the environmentcontroller 10, requesting the measured values and the target values forthe environmental conditions in the room 30 where the sensor 50 islocated. The environment controller 10 extracts from the memory 11 themeasured values and the target values for the environmental conditionsin the room 30 and responds to the query message 222 with a responsemessage 223 including the measured values and the target values for theenvironmental conditions in the room 30. Alternatively, the sensor 50may send a query message 224 to the room controller 40 requesting themeasured values and the target values for the environmental conditionsin the room 30 where the sensor 50 is located. The environmentcontroller 10 extracts from the memory the measured values and thetarget values for the environmental conditions in the room 30 andresponds to the query message 224 with a response message 225 includingthe measured values and the target values for the environmentalconditions in the room 30.

The sensor 50 receives the response message 223 or 225 and forwards themeasured values and the target values for the environmental conditionsin the room 30 to the mobile computing device 70 in a response message204. The mobile computing device 70 receives the response message 226,extracts therefrom the measured values and the target values of theenvironmental conditions for the room 30 where the mobile computingdevice 70 is located. The mobile computing device 70 displays themeasured values and the target values of the environmental conditions inthe room 30 where the mobile computing device 70 is located through adisplay of the mobile computing device 70. A user of the mobilecomputing device 70 may consult the measured values and the targetvalues of the environmental conditions of the room 30 where the mobilecomputing device 70 is located on the display of the mobile computingdevice 70 and modify one or several of the target values of theenvironment conditions through a user interface of the mobile computingdevice 70. The mobile computing device 70 receives from the user of themobile computing device 70 the modified target value(s) for theenvironmental condition(s) for the room 30 and generates a commandmessage 227 sent to the sensor 50, the command message 227 comprisingthe modified target value(s) for the environmental condition(s) for theroom 30 where the mobile computing device 70 is located. The sensor 50receives the command message 227 and extracts therefrom the modifiedtarget value(s) for the environmental condition(s) for the room 30 wherethe sensor 50 is located. The sensor 50 then generates a command message228 sent to the environment controller 10, which comprises the modifiedtarget value(s) of the environmental condition(s) for the room 30 wherethe sensor 50 is located. The environment controller 10 receives thecommand message 228 and extracts therefrom the modified target value(s)of the environmental condition(s) for the room 30 where the sensor 50 islocated. The environment controller 10 compares the measured value(s)with the modified target value(s) for the environmental condition(s) inthe room 30, and generates commands based on a difference between themeasured values and the modified target values for the environmentcontrol for the room 30, the commands being sent to the controlledappliances under the control of the environment controller 10. Theenvironment controller 10 further sends a confirmation message 229 tothe sensor 50, confirming the modification of the target value(s) of theenvironmental condition(s) in the room 30 where the sensor 50 islocated. The sensor 50 may confirm the modification of the targetvalue(s) of the environmental condition(s) in the room 30 to the mobilecomputing device by generating and sending an update message 230providing the modified target value(s) for the environmentalcondition(s) in the room 30. Additionally, the environment controller 10sends an update message 231 to the room controller 40 to inform the roomcontroller 40 of the modified target value(s) for the environmentalcondition(s) in the room 30 where the room controller 40 is located.

To communicate with the environment control system 5, and moreparticularly with the sensors 50 and 60, and the room controller 40, themobile computing device 70 executes code corresponding to an applicationdownloadable from a website, or access a website of the building throughwhich the mobile computing device communicates with the closest sensor50 and 60 or the room controller 40.

Although the present disclosure has been described herein above by wayof non-restrictive, illustrative embodiments thereof, these embodimentsmay be modified at will within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit and nature of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling environmental conditionsin a building, the method comprising: sending by a mobile computingdevice to a sensor in proximity of the mobile computing device a querymessage requesting measured values and target values of theenvironmental conditions for a room where the mobile computing device islocated; upon receipt of the query message from the mobile computingdevice by the sensor, generating and sending by the sensor a querymessage to an environment controller requesting the measured values andthe target values of the at least one environmental condition where thesensor is currently located; extracting by the environment controllerthe measured values and the target values of the environmentalconditions in the room where the sensor is located and responding with aresponse message including the measured values and target values of theenvironmental conditions in the room; receiving by the sensor theresponse message from the environment controller and forwarding in aresponse message the measured values and target values for theenvironmental conditions in the room to the mobile computing device;receiving by the mobile computing device the response message from thesensor; extracting by the mobile computing device the measured valuesand target values of the environmental conditions for the room where thesensor is located and displaying the measured values and target valuesof the environmental condition for the room where the sensor and themobile computing device are located on a display of the mobile computingdevice; receiving through a user interface of the mobile computingdevice a modified target value for at least one of the environmentalcondition for the room where the sensor is located and generating by themobile computing device and sending to the sensor a command messagecomprising the modified target value of the at least one environmentalcondition; receiving by the sensor the command message; extracting bythe sensor the modified target value of the at least one environmentalcondition for the room where the sensor is located from the commandmessage; generating by the sensor a command message for the environmentcontroller comprising the modified target value of the at least oneenvironmental condition for the room where the sensor is located;receiving by the environment controller the command message from thesensor and extracting the modified target value for the at least oneenvironmental condition for the room where the sensor is located;comparing by the environment controller the measured value with themodified target value for the at least one environmental condition inthe room and generating a command for at least one controlled appliancecontrolled by the environment controller based on a difference betweenthe measured value and the modified target value for the room; sendingby the environment controller a confirmation message to the sensorconfirming modification of the target value for the at least oneenvironmental condition for the room where the sensor is located; andgenerating and sending by the sensor an update message providing themodified target value for the at least one environmental condition forthe room to the mobile electronic device.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the environment controller further sends an update message to aroom controller of the room where the sensor is located informing theroom controller of the modified target value for the at least oneenvironmental condition in the room.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe room controller further comprises a display for displaying themeasured value of one of the environmental conditions in the room basedon the data exchanged with the environment controller.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor is co-located with a light fixture.